Black's Phoenix: Well from here we go to two chapters with Cho and her friends and enemies, to set up more tension with her new arch enemy, Marietta, but stay tuned, because I'm going to have Cho pick up on some clues as well.
xHx: Thanks sooo much for explaining about UK currency. Whenever I use it in the story, I'll have a reference now.
Chapter 14: Getting Luna's back.
His eyes were the color of jade, and they had a sparkle about them that glinted like diamonds. His hair had a shiny black sheen, and his soft skin a beautiful flesh-tone. She looked over every part of his face, from the scar on his head to his cute pointy nose.
"Well?" Nancy asked.
His circular glasses gave him a look of gentleness, and his smile gave her a warm feeling inside that could keep her comfortable through the coldest winter. But it wasn't just his looks. He had always had a presents about him that had an effect like a Vela on Cho. She was never able to say the things around him that she wanted to, and never able to stop the nervous feeling of butterflies in her stomach when she was around him.
"Cho?" Nancy said a little agitated at being ignored.
What she wouldn't give to be Hermione Granger she thought. To be beautiful to him, to look like what he wanted. To have a sense of humor like her and to be everything he liked in a girl…"
"CHO!" Nancy shouted. Cho barely heard the shout that could be heard across the Ravenclaw table.
"Huh? I'm sorry, what did you say?" she asked coming out of her stupor. Nancy gave a look of annoyance. "
"I asked you three times what electives you were taking this year. What are you staring at anyway?" Nancy said curious.
"Well, I…nothing…" Cho stammered. Nancy and Beverly were both sitting across from Cho and they looked over her shoulder to the Gryffindor table.
"Oh god. She's staring at Potter. Give it up Cho, he's not interested. And neither should you be. He's not worth your time." Beverly complained.
"Oh, are you still interested in Potter Cho?" Nancy asked interested. "Even after what he did to you last year?" She looked Harry over. "He's okay for looks I guess. I think it's cool that he's such a superstar now, but I prefer the more solid muscular types myself. But still…if I didn't already have a boyfriend I might give him a good shag. How about you Cho?" Nancy finished.
"Nancy!" Cho shouted with a look of embarrassment on her face. Nancy gave a big toothy grin.
"Oh come on Cho. Tell me you've never thought about him giving you one. You were probably thinking about it right now." Nancy stated. Beverly smiling, gave Nancy a nudge, and imitated Potter.
"Oi, Cho, how's a bout a bit of a how's your father." Beverly joked in a deep voice.
"It's not funny! I…I…" Cho looked as if she were about to tear up.
"Oh come on Cho, were just kidding. You're amongst friends here. And you shouldn't be embarrassed about your feelings for some one. But there are plenty of guys in this school that would love to go out with you. Why don't you try going out with one of them. You've haven't been out on a date since the one you had with Potter last year." Beverly said.
"Really? I heard that she was going out with Michael Corner last year." Nancy inquired. Beverly shook her head.
"No, Michael tried to hook up with her by trying to console her after the Quidditch game last year, but he found her to be quite inconsolable. But he went around saying that he shagged her anyway. The stupid bastard. Cho didn't try to deny it because she stopped talking to everyone, but that arse Marietta until summer." Beverly finished.
"Muggle Studies and Care of Magical Creatures." Cho said in monotone with her left hand propping up her face.
"What?" asked Nancy taken off guard. Cho raised her eyes to her.
"You asked me what electives I was taking this year. Muggle studies and Care of Magical Creatures."
"Oh. Since when are you interested in those?" Nancy asked. Cho was happy at the change of subject.
"Well…we moved to England this summer, my parents and I, and have been living in London with my Uncle and cousins. He's a squib, and is married to a Muggle. It's been really difficult to understand some things about Muggles, and I was hoping that I could learn more about the lives of some of my friends and family." Cho said. "Beverly I was hoping that you could help me with my homework in that class this year, please." Cho asked. Beverly nodded her head.
"Sure Cho, no problem.
Just then, Luna walked over to tell Cho that she would be going up to the dorms now and that she would see her later.
"What about Care of Magical Creatures Class?" asked Nancy. "Why the sudden interest in that?"
"Well Luna asked me to take it with her. And I thought it would be fun." Cho said.
"Cho signed up so I could show her the Crumple Horned Snorack that my father and I captured over the summer. It was in the latest article of the Quibbler. He loaned it to Hogwarts over the summer, but it was only just delivered last week. It's going to be sooo cool when you guys see it." Luna finished happily.
"Oh sweetie, Crumple Horned Snoracks don't really exist. They are just mythology." Nancy said as Cho and Beverly gave each other embarrassed looks.
"Sure they do. Cho and Beverly saw the picture in the article. I left it in my dorm room, but I'll show you later." Luna said. Nancy raised an eyebrow.
"Really guys? Did you see it?" Nancy asked surprised that Luna could produce witnesses to her outrageous claim. Beverly gave an embarrassed look.
"Well actually, the thing is that…" Beverly started.
"That we actually did see the picture, and there was a Crumple Horned Snorack in it." Cho interrupted her quickly. "Right Beverly?" She finished. Beverly gave Cho a look of disappointment, but gave a weak "yea" to her. Nancy was genuinely surprised.
"Wow Luna, one of your outrageous claims actually turns out to be true. I'm impressed." Nancy said. Luna looked confused. (I mean more so than usual)
"What do you mean, for once?" Luna asked.
"Oh come on Luna, I mean you know all the creatures that you make up each year, like the Nargles in the wood work, and the Flying Manatocks hiding in the rafters. You have to admit that you have a very active imagination." Nancy said light hearted. Luna gave her a look of slight annoyance.
"I was telling the truth about the nargles, and the Manatocks. They are not part of my imagination. Cho you believe me don't you?" Luna pleaded. Cho cringed.
"Um…yes I do Luna. I know that you believe that you saw all those things. And I…I know that your telling the truth about the Snorack." Cho said embarrassed, but determined to get Luna's back.
"Great!" Luna hugged Cho from behind, and thanked her. "Well I've got to get settled in. See everyone in the common room." Luna said as she left with a wave. When she was out of earshot Nancy asked what a Crumple Horned Snorack actually looked like. Beverly put in quickly before Cho could try to stop her.
"Oh come on Nancy. There is no such thing. Luna just showed us a picture in the paper of her and her father pointing toward an empty space. It's as fictional as all her other delusions. Cho just wants us to pretend that we saw something so that we don't hurt her feelings.
"She says that it's invisible…she…" Cho tried to make an excuse for Luna.
"Stop it Cho. You know that there is no such thing. Look, I admire the fact that you're trying to keep her feelings from being hurt, but no other students going to say that they see a Snorack. And it's just going to be worse for her when the class starts and she can't produce one." Beverly said in utter annoyance. Cho lowered her head.
"That's why we have to get her back on this one. Because nobody else will. I don't want her being laughed at by all those other students, with no one to support her." Cho finished.
"Beverly's right Cho, you're doing more harm than good. I know that you mean well, but Luna's always been a little out there with her, beliefs. I think it's really bad to get her hopes up." Nancy said. Cho gave her a pleading look.
"Please, if she shows you the picture, tell her that you see the Snorack. She just needs people to believe in her."
"I'm sorry Cho, I just can't support lunacy. Look, I kind of like Luna, she's never done anything to me, and I feel bad for her. But she's a bit unstable. I won't say that I see something that I don't. I'm sorry." Nancy said sternly.
"I agree with Nancy. I'll tell Luna that I see the Snorack, but I don't want to look silly in front of my friends. I'm not telling anyone else I see it. You shouldn't either. I mean you're not going to look very good, supporting such fanciful claims of a girl with such a repetition. I hope you understand Cho." Beverly finished apologetically. Cho was severely disappointed. Her eyes lowered, as she spoke.
"Well…I am going to say I see it, and I don't care what anyone else thinks of me. Luna's going to need someone to believe in her." Cho finished. As the conversation turned to other things Cho started staring over at the Gryffindor table at Harry. Why couldn't she get her mind off of him. She didn't know how long she had been staring at him before she realized that he was making eye contact with her. Excessively embarrassed Cho turned to Beverly hoping that Harry thought that she just happened to glance his way, and that she wasn't staring at him with a longing look in her eyes. What am I doing Cho thought. He hates me. He yelled at me on the train. That was less than two hours ago. But I haven't stopped thinking about him all summer.
He's got a girlfriend. A girlfriend? Oh god what about Marietta. I have to warn Miss Granger about her. Cho looked over the Gryffindor table until she saw Miss Granger talking to a red headed boy towards the end of the table closest to the Masters table. Cho started to walk to the Gryffindor table, but turned around in mid stride. No! She thought to herself. It's none of my business. That's between her and Marietta. I don't owe her any favors. She's the girl that Harry cheated on me with last year. Let her and Marietta settle their own matters. After all she really hurt Marietta with that jinx. It was still a mean thing to do to anyone. Maybe if she hadn't jinxed it, than Marietta wouldn't have become so hateful. No…all the jinx did was bring out how Marietta felt about a lot of things. We all signed the parchment, and nothing would have happened to anyone who didn't betray Harry. But didn't I betray him by bringing her to the meeting? I knew that she hated him. I knew that she hated all non purebloods. But I thought I could change her. Am I just as guilty in having brought her there? No…I would never have betrayed Harry, but it's still all my fault that he got in trouble. Marietta is a bad person, who went out of her way to hurt people. And if she had not ratted out the DA nothing would have happened to her. I may not like Miss Granger, but I owe it to her to warn her about Marietta. Maybe I should just leave her an anonymous note, or send her an Owl. Cho thought. No. Everything that happened last year was my fault. I owe it to Miss Granger to warn her in person. Cho noticed that Harry was heading toward the exit of the great hall, and that Miss Granger was still in conversation with another student at the Gryffindor table. The great hall was emptying out fast, and the only person in earshot was the other girl she was talking to. It was now or never. Marietta had threatened to use the Cruico curse against this girl, and even if she wasn't serious about that, she was still planning something nasty. Whatever it was Cho knew that she didn't wish it on anyone. She slowly approached the Gryffindor table. Hermione Granger had her back to her.
"Mmm…Miss Granger?" Cho choked out. Hermione turned to see who was addressing her, and a look of sincere surprise came over her face when she realized it was Cho. "May I have a word with you in private please?" Cho asked politely. Hermione turned back to the girl she was talking to.
"Katie can I get bake with you on that later?" Katie Bell nodded her head and waved goodbye as she headed for the exit. Hermione than turned back to Cho, with a look of genuine confusion.
"Cho Chang…how…how can I help you?" Hermione asked. Cho had a worried look on her face that made Hermione think that Cho might be expecting to be jinxed for talking to her.
"Well I…Marietta Edgencombe she…she told me this summer that she was going to…to put the cruico curse on…on you this year. And I wanted to warn you to be careful around her." Cho stammered. Hermione gave a bewildered look.
"I don't understand Cho. Are you making a threat against me to lay off your friend?"
"Oh…no. She and I…we don't talk anymore. And I know that she didn't really mean it. I mean I know that she knows that the cruico curse is one of the unforgivable curses. But…I think that she will try something nasty on you to…get revenge for what you did to her last year. I just wanted you to be on guard. So that she wouldn't succeed in whatever she was planning. I didn't want you to get hurt. And I felt I owed it to you to…to let you know about her threats." Cho finished still with a worried look on her face. Hermione was surprised by Cho's act. She would have thought that Cho wanted a little payback for her friend too. She was at a bit of a loss for what to say.
"Um…thanks Cho. I…I'm very grateful you are thoughtful enough to warn me. Um, so your not friends with her anymore?" Hermione finished. Cho shook her head. Cho's look told Hermione that this wasn't easy for her. Marietta and Cho had still been friends when the jinx came on Marietta's face, and even though warning Hermione was the right thing to do, it certainly couldn't have been an easy thing to do, going against a former friend to help some one that you didn't really know. "Well I'm really grateful that you let me know. I'll keep an eye out for her. Hermione extended her hand to Cho in a gester of good will. Cho hesitated, but offered her hand as well.
"Um…well I have to go Miss Granger. To get settled in. Please excuse me." Cho turned to leave the great hall seeing Beverly and Nancy still at work on their pudding. When she was just a few feet away Hermione called to her.
"Hey Cho! Um, some girls from my house and I are having a study session in the courtyard tomorrow at four thirty. Would you like to come?" Hermione asked shyly. Oh no! Cho thought. She wasn't trying to make friends with Harry's girlfriend. She only intended to keep harm from coming to her. It would be really awkward for her, and she didn't know if she even liked her or not. She tried to think up an excuse.
"I…well the thing is that…I have to take um. I have to do some work for my head of house at that time. Review some papers. I'm sorry." Cho said apologetically. Hermione looked disappointed, but waved it off.
"Oh. Well maybe some other time." Hermione said disappointed. Cho nodded with a smile, and headed off toward the North Tower before Hermione could think of another time.
Cho reached a painting of a couple in a loving embrace. The woman was dressed in a white Victorian Error dress, with a purple parasol hanging off her arm, and the Man in a crimson soldier's uniform with white straps and a white pith helmet. The two of them were set against a South African planes background. They stopped there snogging when they heard Cho walk up.
"Oh, um excuse us. Err password please?" The man said embarrassed.
"Einstein." Cho said in monotone, and the portrait opened. Cho crossed the common room in which a few students had already started to gather toward the stairs.
The Ravenclaw common room was adorned with paintings of the most intellectually astute wizards, and witches of the past.The walls were painted in the house color of blue, with silver and bronze stripes. And in the middle of the fireplace mantel sat two empty spaces, one on which was to sat the Quidditch Cup, and the other, the House Cup. Since Cho had been going to school neither had graced the Ravenclaw room with their presence, and Cho feared she would not see it happen this year. But then again, she wasn't seeker this year, so Ravenclaw might just have a chance, since she wouldn't be on the team to screw things up.
Cho made her way to the left stair chamber and climbed the stairs to her dormitory to find Marietta, Danielle waiting for her at the entrance to her room, arms crossed, mischievous smiles on their faces, and a familiar looking steamer trunk at their feet. Pollyanna Millsworth a sixth year, stood in the background putting her things in Cho's dresser drawer.
"What's going on here?" Cho said suspiciously.
"Simple, dear Cho. I arranged to have the sleeping arrangements changed. Now Danielle and I don't have to share a room with someone who befouls herself with mudblood filth all the time. From now on this is going to be a room of absolute purity. You're new room is with that filth Beverly Jones, and, Nancy Cromwell can bloody well join you when she gets here." Marietta said tossing her hair with a tone of disgust. Cho was livid.
"You have no authority to change sleeping quarters. Head Girl doesn't carry that type of authority." Cho shot.
"Did I say anything about changing them myself? I said I had arranged to have them changed. I told professor Flitwick that the two of us had irreconcilable differences, and that we both agreed that the best way to resolve it was for one of us to change rooms. I told him that you had agreed to it as well, knowing that you would. Once I got a form with his okay, I arranged to have that other mudblood, Cromwell out of here too. You two will now be in the fifth room down the hall well away from me. Pollyanna Millsworth and Caoimhe Duffy will be taking the place of you two." Marietta said with a cheery smile. "Hear! I took the liberty of packing your shit up for you." Marietta gave the steamer trunk that was next to her a swift kick, sliding it over to Cho. Cho gave her a look of disgust.
"You know Marietta, your right. I wouldn't want to spend another second in the same room with a racist bigot like you. I'm glad to be out of this rat hole of a room that you two rats have infested." Cho said. Danielle and Marietta, reached for their wands at the insult, but Cho had brought hers up to Marietta's neck first. Marietta didn't flinch.
"Be careful Chang. Beverly isn't here to help you right now, and attacking us will lose you points for our house when we tell Flitwick about how you attacked us." Cho gave the two girls a look of deep hatred.
"You pulled wands on me first. And if you keep talking about my friends it won't matter. I'll blast the two of you with a jinx on general principal." Cho shot. Marietta and Daniel stared at Cho with deep hatred, but put their wands away. Cho did the same and started off down the hallway.
"Oh Cho! I forgot to put something in your trunk. You know that piece of rubbish that's been sitting on your nightstand before, during, and after you were snogging with Diggory. Do you want it back?" Marietta said as she held a picture frame with Harry Potter playing Quidditch from Cho's third year. Cho again reached for her wand and pointed it in the direction of Marietta, and Danielle.
"You…you give that back right now Marietta or I'll kill you.
"Oh my! Making homicidal threats now are we Cho. Tisk tisk…You know if you weren't in my house, I'd take ten points for that right now." Marietta looked at the picture. "Well I guess we all know who keeps Cho wet between the legs at night." She and Danielle chuckled. "Here you can have it. Better enjoy it. It's all that's going to be left of him after he meets up with You-Know-Who." Danielle put in as Marietta tossed the picture at Cho's feet. "That is, if he's even telling the truth about what happened." Marietta finished. Cho picked the framed picture of Harry. The glass was broken, and Harry was rubbing a fresh burse on his head that had not been there before. Cho shot the two of them a look of deep hatred.
"What's that supposed to mean. Don't you read the papers? He's a hero, and he defeated You-Know-Who, and his Death Eaters at the ministry of Magic last year. Cho said in Harry's defense
"Really Cho? I thought that last year you kept telling me that all the papers were rubbish. And while I'm not denying that he took on You-Know-Who's Death Eaters, there is some doubt as to weather You-Know-Who himself is back. After all…One of the primary witnesses ended up taking his own life before he could give any details about what really went on. And Dumbledore said that he couldn't divulge the names of most of the other people involved, so as to not…"Blow their cover" as he put it. So really, it's just the word of the Head Master and a few students about what really happened.
"Luna saw everything. She can tell you, not that I would have her bother trying to convince you two. You'd probably be happy about his return, and join him." Cho finished.
"Not really. He was a bit to extreme for us. We want the mudbloods out, but not dead. Not that we would miss them, but…were really just looking out for the greater good of society. People who don't come from pure magical linage don't have any business in our world. They need to leave. Anyway I read an account by Lunatic Lovegood in that stupid magazine, the Quaker, and she never personally saw You-Know-Who, and nether did any of Potters friends. Just him and the head Master. But than again, knowing how crazy she is, his return might be about as real as a Crumple Horned Snorack." Cho threw up her hands, and walked away without another word. If she exchanged another word with Marietta and Danielle she would be expelled for what she would do to them. She made her way to her new dorm room where Luna was visiting with Beverly and Nancy.